Community-based Program to Treat Childhood Obesity

Effects of a Community-based Program to Treat Childhood and Adolescent Obesity

This study will evaluate the effectiveness of a comprehensive community based program on reducing excess weight in children and teens. This study will recruit 150 participants between the ages of 6-12 and 13-17.

This study will evaluate the effectiveness of a comprehensive community based program on reducing excess weight. Overweight and obese study participants will be grouped with peers of similar ages and their parent/guardians. The participants will be divided into 2 groups, child (6-12 yrs. old) and teens (13-17 yrs. old) and will be accompanied by their parent/guardian. 150 participants will be recruited for this study.

This 6-month program (12 in-person group workshop sessions and 12 at-home sessions) takes the best components of current evidence for individual treatment and places them in a comprehensive community based program. These include:

• Parental involvement
• Reduction in consumption of sugar sweetened beverages
• Reduction of screen time
• Self-monitoring
• Physical activity
• Stimulus control

Inclusion Criteria

• Children and teens between the ages of 6-17
• BMI percentile ≥85
• Participation of a parent/guardian

Exclusion Criteria:

• Enrollment in another weight loss program or study
• Diagnosis of type 1 or type 2 diabetes
• Pre-existing medical conditions (e.g., Prader Willi) that affect weight and appetite
• Medications (e.g., steroids) that affect weight or appetite
• Serious or unstable medical or psychological conditions that, in the opinion of the Principal Investigator, would compromise the participant's safety or successful participation in the study